The Kerala High Court has called on the state government to enact a stringent anti-ragging law with severe criminal penalties. Citing the 2024 suicide of Pookode veterinary student J. S. Sidharthan as a tragic wake-up call, Justice D. K. Singh emphasized that existing UGC regulations are inadequate to curb violent campus behavior. The court warned that unless tougher legal action is taken, such tragedies may continue.
The bench directed Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University to complete disciplinary action against two suspended officials within three months and ensure accountability for students involved in Sidharthan’s death. This directive also aligns with separate judicial pushes to strengthen the Prohibition of Ragging (Kerala) Act, especially in light of a recent brutal ragging incident at a nursing college in Kottayam.
The court’s demand marks a turning point in Kerala’s response to campus violence—signaling that mere guidelines won’t suffice and that strong legal deterrents are essential to protect students and restore safety and dignity to educational institutions.
